St. John’s Lutheran, 310 W. Church St., holds St. John’s Wednesdays each week starting at 5 p.m. with the Rainbow Club for pre-schools through elementary school-aged students and Bible Study for adults. A meal is held after the classes, at 6 p.m. The church is starting Wednesday Vespers, a new informal worship service of evening prayer and Holy Communion at 6:30 p.m. on Sept 25. The Table of Grace will hold a community meal, free to the community, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 28, featuring spaghetti, garlic bread and dessert. The Parish Pantry will also be open during this time. Call 704-435-9264.

Second Baptist, 201 N. Houser St., celebrates its 73 rd anniversary at 11 a.m. Sunday. The Rev. Jerry Lail, who has served as interim pastor several times and was recently named senior pastor, will give the message. A meal will follow in the fellowship hall.

CLOVER

Green Pond United Methodist, 983 Bethel St., holds its annual Calendar Tea presented by the women at 4 p.m. Sept. 28. The theme is “Seasons of the Year.”

Crouse United Methodist, 3311 Crouse School Road, holds a Spaghetti Supper Benefit for Sheila Rutledge, from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 28, presented by the Church Outreach Class. The meal will consist of spaghetti, salad, bread, desserts and tea. All proceeds will go to Rutledge’s medical expense fund. Call 704-735-2443.

DALLAS

Bethel Lutheran, 509 Long Shoals Road, located one mile off the Dallas-Cherryville Highway, presents NALC missionary to Liberia Pastor Samar Ghandor, who will deliver the sermon at 11 a.m. Sunday. A covered-dish meal will follow the service. Pastor Samar will show a slide presentation about his mission work during lunch. There will only be one service. Call Pastor Steven King, 704-922-5487.

Holy Communion Lutheran, 103 W. Church St., holds a country breakfast and bake sale from 7 to 10 a.m. Sept. 28. Cost is $7 for adults and $5 for children age 10 and younger. Church cookbooks will be sold for $6 each. Resident chef, Gene Armstrong, will be cooking.

Maranatha Baptist, Dallas-Cherryville Highway, holds Friend Day at 11 am. Sept. 29. The 11 a.m. service will feature a dramatic skit, special singing and an encouraging message. Following the service, the church will provide a free gift to all first-time guests as well as a home-cooked meal for all. Call 704-922-3992 or visit www mbcdallas.com.

Puett United Methodist, corner of Puett Chapel Road and Dallas-Stanley Highway, holds its annual fall barbecue and bake sale from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 27. Plates cost $7 each and include Kyle Fletcher Barbecue, sauce, slaw, baked beans, chips, two rolls and cake. Tea and coffee will be served for those dining in. Pre-orders will be delivered for five or more plates. There will also be an opportunity to purchase a variety of homemade desserts. The event is sponsored by the United Methodist Women.

Walnut Grove Baptist, 3400 Dallas-Cherryville Highway, holds its homecoming on Sept. 29. New pastor Stephen Weaver will preach and a bluegrass group will perform. Worship is at 11 a.m., followed by dinner in the family life center.

Waypoint, 217 S. College St., (formerly Dallas Wesleyan Church) holds its homecoming service on Sept. 29, beginning at 10:30 a.m. with guest speaker Dick Whitener. A dinner will follow in the fellowship hall.

GASTONIA

Center Baptist, 3401 S. New Hope Road, observes Family and Friends Day during the 10:45 a.m. service on Sunday.

Crowders Creek ARP, 207 Crowders Creek Church Road, kicks off its Sunday Evening classes with an ice cream social at 6 p.m. Sunday. The event will include singing and games for children. Call 704-864-0196.

Generation Church, 625 Neal Hawkins Road, holds a community car show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 28 with an Oct. 5 rain date. Other highlights include live music and entertainment, door prizes, silent auction, concessions, vendors, kids’ activities and a guest appearance by Chizzle, the mascot of the Gastonia Grizzles. Cost to register is a car is $20. Registration is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with awards at 3 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for Top 10, Best of Show car/truck, Best of Paint, Best Unfinished, Best Interior, Best Domestic, Best Classic, & Best Import. Call 704-867-8721.

Mount Calvary Baptist, 408 N. Marietta St., Gastonia, holds a Taste of Many Flavors benefit from 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 28, presented by the Circle of Women in Christ. For $10 you can enjoy the food and cast a vote for the best taste, theme and decorated table. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling the church at 704-864-4222. They will also be available at the door. Door prizes will be awarded, including a $25 gift certificate to Red Lobster and Belk. There will be $1 raffle to win a $50 gift card.

Mount Hebron Baptist, 711 Mount Hebron Church Road, holds Friends and Family Picnic from noon to 6 p.m. Sept. 28 in the family life center. The church holds its F riends and Family Day during the 11 a.m. service on Sept. 29.

New Holy Temple, 1468 W. Airline Ave., holds a Teens Against Teen Violence walk at 9 a.m. Saturday, hosted by the Women Empowering Women to Be New Holy Temples and the New Holy Temple Youth Ministry.

New Hope Presbyterian, 4357 S. New Hope, holds its homecoming service at 11 a.m. Sept. 29, followed by lunch with entertainment by the gospel group The Black Family. Call 704-824-1697.

Pisgah A.R.P., 3600 Linwood Road, holds a Super Saturday Community Day on Oct. 5, featuring a pancake breakfast, tag sale, bake sale and Boston butt sale from 7 to 11 a.m. A cookout, children’s activities, bouncy house and face painting takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will also be a car show from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration for the show, open to cars, trucks and motorcycles is $20 in advance and $25 the day of the event. Additional cars cost $10 each to register. For details, email tgee1@aolc.om. For information on the event, call 704 865-7611.

Providence Presbyterian, 2850 Union Road, welcomes a new pastor, Harper Price, in October. His first service will be Oct. 6. The church holds Sunday school each week at 9:45 a.m., followed by worship at 11 am. A 5 p.m. ordination service and reception for the new pastor will be held at 5 p.m. Oct. 13.

Saint Michael Catholic, 708 St. Michael’s Lane, holds its annual Fun Fair Oct. 5,starting with a 5K run and 1-mile fun run at 8 a.m. followed by a pancake breakfast. The fair takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features games, prizes, rides, bingo, a silent auction, basket raffles and a bake sale. For more visit www.SMSGastonia.com and click on “Fun Fair 2013” at the bottom of the page.

Page 4 of 5 - West Franklin Baptist, 450 S. Myrtle School Road, presents Rick Strickland in concert at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 29, part of the church’s homecoming celebration. The concert is free. Lunch will follow. A love offering will be taken. Call 704-867-6018 or email sfrady4@gmail.com.

First United Methodist, 219 N. Main St., holds a hot dog sale from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Cost is $5 and includes hot dog, chips, drink and dessert. For more information, call 704-263-2691. The United Methodist Women will be selling homemade apple pies Oct. 2-4. Pies should be picked up at the church between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on these days. Whole pies cost $10 and fried pies cost $2. To place an order, call 704-263-2691.

Restoring Hope Foursquare, 1026 Dallas-Stanley Highway, holds a Spiritual Extravaganza from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 27 featuring a car show, live music, liturgical dance, choral music, quartets, youth bands, a magic show, character drawings, and mime. The event will be held at Family Med and Hardees of Stanley. The special guests will be Road Warriors Outreach of Restoring Hope Ministries.

The Christian Women’s Job Corp of Gaston County holds an “Empowering Women” fundraising benefit from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Sandy Plains Baptist Church, 5323 Union Road, Gastonia. Author Phyllis Elvington will be the guest speaker. Lunch is being catered, and a love offering for CWJC will be taken. Tickets are $12 and are on sale now. For details or tickets, contact Sandy Wright, site director, 704-867-0186 or 704-813-6761.

Page 5 of 5 - Faith on Wheels Motorcycle Ministry holds a charity ride on Saturday to benefit Crisis Assistance Ministry. The ride starts at 2 p.m. at Union Presbyterian, 5615 Union Road, Gastonia, and will return to the church at 4:30 p.m. A pinto bean supper will be served at 5 p.m. The cost of the ride and supper is a donation of one bag of non-perishable food. Motorcycles are not required to participate. Call J.W. Helms, 704-813-8121, or Walt Ratchford, 803-517-0891.

Send faith announcements to wmacdonald@gastongazette.com or fax them to 704-867-5751. The deadline for submissions is noon Wednesday.